Brendan Rodgers has left Swansea in order to take over as manager at Liverpool, where he will replace Kenny Dalglish.

Rodgers, 39, has signed a three-year deal with the Anfield club, who have reportedly paid Swansea a figure between £4 and £5 million in compensation. He was unveiled at Anfield on Friday morning.

The Northern Irishman has been rewarded for getting Swansea promoted into the Premier League and then leading them to an 11th-place finish. The Swans' possession-based style of play won them many admirers, and they recorded home league victories over Arsenal and Manchester City, among others.

Before managing Swansea, Rodgers had spells in the hotseats at Reading, where he lasted just six months in 2009 before leaving by mutual consent, and Watford. He was also a leading figure in youth development at Chelsea during the Jose Mourinho era.

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez looked to be a leading candidate for the Liverpool job, particularly when he flew out to America to meet the owners, but he will now stay on at the DW Stadium.

Dalglish was sacked earlier this month despite leading Liverpool to Carling Cup glory, and to the final of the FA Cup. He was ultimately to pay for a hugely disappointing league performance: Liverpool aimed for the top four pre-season, only to finish eighth.

Rodgers will now look to add to his squad at Anfield, with speculation immediately linking him with some of his standout performers at the Liberty Stadium. However, Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has revealed the club have agreed a clause that means Rodgers cannot approach his former players for at least a year.

"I have a good relationship with Brendan and we've got some protection with him coming back in for our players in the short term," Jenkins told Wales Online. "We've got that agreement and a 12 month respite. The most important thing is our relationship is intact.

"We have to look after our own interests and look to continue in the right manner."